Microsoft has updated its collection of Windows Server 2008 free downloads on August 4, 2007 and new versions are up for grabs. Currently Windows Server 2008, formerly codenamed Longhorn is still in Beta 3 stage and by the looks of it, Microsoft will take its due time with the development of the product. Still, according to the Redmond company, Windows Server 2008, even in Beta 3 is good enough to be already in deployment. As a matter of fact, Microsoft's official website is powered by the last 32-bit server operating system from Microsoft.

There are no less than five versions of Windows Server 2008 available for download, namely: Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 for Itanium-based Systems, Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 Datacenter, Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 Enterprise, Windows Web Server 2008 Beta 3, Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 Standard.

"Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 helps IT professionals to increase the flexibility of their server infrastructure while offering developers a more robust web and applications platform for building connected applications and services," Microsoft revealed in the product's description.

One thing that you absolutely have to keep in mind is the fact that the various versions of Windows Server 2008 are quite healthy downloads and you will need to plan ahead. The Standard edition for example weighs in at a maximum of 13.2 GB, Windows Web Server 2008 Beta 3 is 11.7 GB, Enterprise is 13.1 GB, Datacenter is 13.2 GB and Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 for Itanium-based Systems just 6.4 GB.

"This time-limited release of Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 will expire on April 7, 2008. After this time, you will need to uninstall the software or upgrade to a later release or a fully-licensed version of Windows Server 2008. This product requires a valid product key for activation - you may install the product without activation, but if you do not enter a valid product key and activate within 30 days of installation, the software will cease to function," Microsoft added.

Iain McDonald, the Director of Project Management for Windows Server reveled that there is little reason to keep users away for Windows Server 2008 just because the product is still in beta. Microsoft only recently revealed the delay of the RTM date for Windows Server 2008 from the end of this year to the beginning of the next. The end of February 2008 is still the official launch date for the final version of Windows Server 2008.

"Beta 3 has been the quietest beta I have ever been involved with. Ever. Less issues coming in, less problems coming up, no really weird thing that just surprise us. Yes, every beta has bugs & we've gotten a bunch - but there just are less than I have ever seen with the sorts of deployments & real world scenarios we know are going on," McDonald explained.

Get the new versions of Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 right here.